39

Even though Persia's eyes sparkled in agreement with Alistair's smooth words, there was a hint of wariness in her elegant posture, a veiled determination to keep the Councillor in place should he step one foot out of line.

Whatever the history of the treaty was, it must be pretty contentious since Savannah had never heard of it. Ever since Vinlarhk aristocracy distanced themselves from the Council of wolves a few decades ago, there was rarely any trade or even travel between the northern province and the rest of the Pacifica continent.

When had this treaty been negotiated, and what were these conditions Lord Alistair spoke of? The possibilities sent a finger of curiosity mixed with suspicion racing up and down her spine.

A warm hand on her back immediately calmed her, soothing her fraying nerves, but when her body subconsciously angled towards the source of comfort and she realised her mate had stepped closer in a very protective move, Savannah jittered away like a startled squirrel.

"And who might your charming companion be?"

Their interaction drew Lord Alistair's attention to Zion, who was once more standing silently beside the Princess.

"Oh, forgive me for forgetting my manners," Persia laughed softly, her eyes straying to Savannah's with a conspiratorial gleam. "This is my travel companion and personal guard, Hamid Hajian."

"Hamid?" Savannah's eyes widened, her tone incredulous as she once more stared at her mate.

He shook his head almost imperceptibly, forcing her to back down and lower her eyes in submission. Whatever game he was playing, it would be foolish to reveal it in front of Lord Alistair. And seeing as she couldn't seem to control herself, she took a deep breath and vowed to keep silent.

Glaring subtly at her mate, she suddenly wished for the ability to mindlink him so she could rip him to shreds for all the lies he'd entangled her in.

"Ah, of course," Lord Alistair purred, nodding in understanding. "You can never be too careful around these parts."

"Indeed," Persia agreed, lifting her chin arrogantly. "In fact, it was on this very soil, further north where my province borders your territory, that the assassination attempt on my mother's life was committed. I will be eternally grateful for the brave young wolf who saved her before it was too late."

Lord Alistair narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly, a muscle ticking in his jaw. "You and I remember those events very differently, I'm afraid. But then, how would you even remember? You weren't born yet. Your mother, God bless the Queen, takes the word of a filthy rogue against that of our finest Alphas. But forgive me, we aren't here to discuss the past. We look ahead to the future!" He lifted the glass in his hand as if toasting the declaration.

"The future," Persia echoed, her smile never slipping even as she watched Alistair's sketchy charisma as closely as a hawk. "That's what you invited us here to discuss, yes?"

"Indeed, it is," Alistair smiled again, his eyes glittering brighter than the jewelled rings on Persia's fingers. "I'm glad to see the future of Vinlarhk is in very good hands." He seemed to be glancing at Zion far more than Persia as he said this.

"We're good at what we do," the Princess responded in a lofty tone, her calculating gaze not once straying from Alistair.

"I would expect nothing less, especially after finally meeting with you in person. And your companion," the lord of Council paused, causing Savannah to lean forward in anticipation of a fight. If anyone dared to lay a hand on her mate... "I presume he is as deadly as he is immaculate." Alistair raked his gaze up and down Zion's tall figure, taking in every detail of his distinguished appearance.

Savannah understood what he was inferring. Zion was dressed exquisitely in a burgundy velour tuxedo with the finest cut, tailored perfectly to his broad build. He was neatly groomed, every hair on his head styled to match Persia's elegance with his masculine dominance.

Savannah's hands just wanted to run through those silky locks then wrap around his neck, tugging him closer to her body so she could stake a claim on this magnificent male who was her mate. The fact Persia, this Princess of Vinlarhk with so much more power and authority than her, was standing so closely to him with her regal airs on full display, was messing with Savannah's mind and twisting her heart like it was nothing more than a washcloth, designed to polish the floors under the Princess's royal feet.

A coy smile grew on Persia's lips as she slid her arm around Zion's. "He certainly is very dangerous," she agreed, then added in a sultry voice, "in more ways than one." Subtly lifting her eyebrows, she hinted at a double meaning.

Alistair chuckled a greasy laugh, the sound churning like burnt oil in Savannah's stomach.

The female Alpha could do nothing but give Persia her darkest look. If the haughty Princess thought she could snatch away her mate without a fight, she was more stupid than Savannah first believed.

"And how is your dear mother?"

Alpha, we should get going.

Justin's voice in her head drowned out the sickening charm of Lord Alistair, and though everything within the young Alpha wanted to stay and reclaim her mate, she knew her Beta was wise in leading her away from the volatile situation.

"If that slimy snake thinks she can get away with this, I'm going to strangle her," Savannah muttered under her breath as they stepped outside onto the elegantly decorated patio where dozens of tables were laden with food and drinks.

"Who? The Princess?" Justin turned to her sharply, alarm on his face.

"In fact, I'm going to strangle them both," she vowed, glancing over her shoulder to where the trio were chatting and laughing like old friends.

"But— what on earth is going on?" her Beta clutched her arm, much like Zion had when she was about to do something stupid. "Speak to me, Savannah. You acted as if you've seen them before."

"Oh, I have. That lying two-faced Princess tried abducting my mate under the guise of an assassin. I saved his life once, and it looks like I'm going to have to do it again. Just see the way she has her grimy paws all over my man!"

"He's your mate?" Justin gaped, turning pale as he raked a hand through his unruly curls. "That is the Silver Rogue?!"

"Keep your voice down, will you?" Savannah hissed and dragged him to a dark corner where the other Alphas couldn't hear them. "If anyone finds out who he really is, he's as good as dead. I don't even know why he came here tonight," Savannah wrung her hands together, a truckload of despair swallowing her whole.

"But this is big! We have to alert everyone. What if he tries killing—"

"Oh, shush!" Savannah clapped her hand over her panicked Beta's mouth. "No one is killing anyone tonight. Can't you see how un-roguish he looks? He's calm and sophisticated, and way too smart to try anything stupid here tonight. He's not the man you think he is, Justin."

When she carefully lowered her hand, Justin sighed out of his mouth and looked at her sternly. "He tried killing me. He abducted you. He's murdered dozens of wolves. Give me one good reason not to hand him over right now to the Council to receive punishment for his crimes."

"He's my mate," she responded in only a fraction of a second. It was the only reason she didn't have to stop and think about.

"Yet he's a ruthless killer! Just because you feel a connection to him doesn't mean—"

"Listen, we're not discussing this here," she interrupted, stomping her foot lightly to emphasise her words. "We are not going to tell anyone who he is, and that's final. Do you understand?" she looked deep into Justin's eyes, projecting her Alpha dominance over him.

He clenched his jaw, eyes flashing in defiance but his posture subtly bowed in respect to her. "Fine. But this isn't over. When I get the chance, I'm going to make him pay for what he's done to us."

"It will be suicide. He's stronger than any of us."

Justin scoffed. "Are you saying he's stronger than an Alpha? What does that make him, an Alpha himself?"

Savannah shrugged, crossing her arms nonchalantly to cover the slight tremble they'd developed. She shifted her weight and studied her mate across the distance. "Who knows? Something like that. He has a lot of authority over his gang of rogues, and was... is the most dominant rogue on the continent."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do." She didn't feel like explaining the rogue wars she'd attended with Zion and his crew, nor the way they'd slaughtered Regan and his men. And his daughter...

She shook the awful images of Calista's agonized face from her memory. Mentioning that would only stir up more controversy between herself and her Beta.

"Whatever. But he can't get away with this, even if he is your mate. The wellbeing of our pack comes first. All the packs come first, and you shouldn't be forgetting that." Justin studied her with disapproval in his eyes.

She ignored him, telling herself he had no idea what he was talking about since he'd never met his own mate. Once he did, he'd understand how she felt. He'd do anything to protect his mate, just like she was doing for Zion now.

When Justin opened his mouth to add something, she shook her head and waved her hand dismissively in his face. "I'm going to the bathroom. Go ahead and have dinner without me. I'm not hungry anyway." Stomping away, she didn't even look over her shoulder to see if Justin complied. She was filled with too much turmoil, and just needed a moment of privacy to calm down.

"Well, if it isn't the dear little Alpha," Persia said slyly as she stepped from the shadows, blocking Savannah's path.

"Don't call me that!" she hissed, beyond annoyed and too angry to care that she was letting it show. "Only Zion gets to call me that."

"Speaking of your charming mate," Persia continued airily as if Savannah's words had no effect on her. "You won't be getting in my way, will you?"

Savannah crossed her arms defensively. "Depends. Will you get in mine?"

The light smile slipped from Persia's eyes as she suddenly grew serious. "Consider this the favour you owe me. Zion belongs to me for the next few weeks, then you can have him back. If he'll even have you."

"You have got to be insane." Savannah stepped forward hotly and pointed a finger in Persia's face. How easy it would be to strangle this entitled Princess here and now, in the lonely corridor outside the bathrooms. Would she even be able to? If Persia really was a Princess, the daughter of a dominant Alpha Queen, then Savannah had no chance against her. Persia's strength in the Black Woods suddenly made sense.

Still, Savannah could be intimidating when she tried to be. "If you dare touch him, I will forget you are a Princess," she hissed, thinking quickly of a worthy punishment for this horrid shewolf. "I will forget that you are a Princess and I'm an Alpha. We'll just be rogues like we were in the Black Woods, and there'll be no one stopping me from ripping you to shreds."

Persia didn't budge, the graceful expression never slipping from her countenance. "Are your threats meant to scare me? I've never been a rogue, and I never fear petty revenge."

"Is that so?" Savannah rose to her full height and exuded dominance. "Well, I make a pretty good rogue, ruthless and cunning. And threats are my specialty."

Persia just smiled down at her like she was a moody teenager. "Don't break a leg when you fall off this high horse of yours," she advised, her words dripping with condescension. After patting Savannah's shoulder lightly, she strutted off down the corridor, the sound of her heels echoing in time to the staccato beat of Savannah's heart.

Swallowing the curse words that nearly rose to her lips, Savannah stormed into the bathroom. Finding it empty, she stood at the sink and splashed her face with cold water. It would take much more to cool the fire in her blood, but it was a start. "That shewolf infuriates me so much! Such cheek of her! She is so going down," Savannah growled to herself.

"Going where?" a quiet voice asked.

"Down!" Savannah responded vehemently.

"How far down?"

"Waaay down."

"That will be fun to watch," the deep voice chuckled. "I'll definitely place my money on you, my little Alpha."

The familiar nickname caused Savannah to jump and emit a quiet scream at the sudden realisation she wasn't alone. Her eyes collided with Zion's through the mirror, as he stood closely behind her. How had he crept up on her like a ghost of the forest? And what on earth was he doing in the women's bathroom?

"I see you're still wearing the necklace I gave you," he murmured, his warm breath fanning her ear and sending tingles racing down the entire left side of her body.

Curse you, mate bond...

She took a moment to formulate a stoic reply that wouldn't betray her flustered heart. "It's a reminder of a man I once knew as mate," she narrowed her eyes on him. "However, if those memories are only fantasy, I might as well get rid of it." She lifted her hands to remove the necklace, but was met with resistance.

Zion's fingers closed over hers, stilling them with tiny shocks of electricity. "My promise still stands. I will join you when the time is right."

She spun around then, leaning as far back against the sink as possible to put some distance between their magnetic bodies. "What makes you think I will believe a word you say?"

Even though she hissed at him, he responded with a languid smile, his demeanor far more composed than hers. "Because you're my mate, and you can't help it," he smirked in the familiar way that always either irritated or charmed her.

Now, she just felt like a volcano about to erupt and burn the entire hotel down.

"You have got to be the most insane wolf I've ever met. You have kept the truth from me the entire time I've known you, and now you have the audacity to make promises that I'm just expected to believe? You are impossible," she jabbed her fingers toward his chest, wishing to shove him back with all her strength against the elegantly tiled wall behind. He'd slam into the small table and send the fancy vase filled with blushing peonies tumbling to the floor, smashing it into a million smithereens. The sound would be so satisfying, she thought to herself.

"I didn't tell you everything because it was dangerous to know," Zion responded with far more restraint than she could comprehend. His calm demeanour only made her more upset. He continued when she remained silent. "Savannah, you have to at least believe that I only want to protect you. There are things going on far beyond your comprehension."

"So you think I'm dumb?" She crossed her arms defensively over her chest, stopping just short of stomping her foot in response to his insult.

Zion shook his head, a sad frown creasing his forehead. "Quite the opposite. You are even more intelligent than you give yourself credit for." His eyes slowly took her in, giving her a once over that had heat rising up her neck in response to his perusal.

Suddenly, she wanted him to appreciate how she looked. Did he like the elegant dress? Did he admire the golden heels she wore that secretly matched the flecks in his irises? Or did he prefer her barefoot and muddied as they chased each other through the forest?

"You're perfect," he eventually said, his voice a mere whisper yet echoing louder than a hurricane in her ears. "I just hoped you'd understand, but clearly I was mistaken—"

"So make me understand! Tell me..."

He shushed her with a gentle shake of his head, a small caress of his fingers against her lips. "Not now. And certainly not here. Just trust me," he told her firmly, his eyes darkening with seriousness.

Something about his tone forbade her from pushing him further.

"Fine. Keep your secrets," she said flippantly, playing off the hammering of her heart and hoping he couldn't hear it. Turning back to the mirror, she averted her eyes from his and took a deep breath to calm her fraying nerves. "Just don't expect me to understand when you won't even trust me to—"

Looking up, her eyes met void space. The bathroom was once more empty, the presence of her mate gone where only moments ago it had consumed every fibre of her concentration.

"That scoundrel!" Releasing a heavy sigh, she sagged against the bench.

A toilet flushed somewhere down the row of cubicles, causing Savannah to once more stiffen in alarm.

Melody trotted down towards the sinks and gave Savannah a conspiring smile. "Well, that was interesting. But don't worry. I'll pretend I didn't hear a thing," she winked and casually fixed her lipstick and hair after washing her hands.

"Will you?" Savannah stared at the other shewolf, aghast that she'd heard her entire illicit conversation with Zion. "I know how hard it is for you to..."

"To keep my mouth shut?" Melody finished for her when Savannah trailed off. "I know I have a loud mouth, but I also know how to keep a secret when I have to."

"Thank you!" Savannah squished her in a tight hug, relief consuming her. She knew she could trust Melody, and that wouldn't change.

"But you owe me all the juicy details later, okay?"

"Deal." Savannah laughed in agreement as they stepped out of the bathroom, glad to have an ally amongst these ravenous wolves.

Her laughter stopped short when she looked across the deck to the drinks bar where Zion was standing, talking intently with Lord Alistair.

The drink in his hand was bitter, but the sting as it slid down his throat sharpened his senses and fueled his determination. Zion refused a top-up from the bartender with a slight shake of his head; a few sips was all he needed.

"Enjoying the evening?" Lord Alistair asked as he slid smoothly into the seat next to Zion. "Or are our humble dinners nothing compared to the lavish banquets I'm sure you're used to in Vinlarhk?" He lifted his eyebrows with an easy smile on his face.

Zion barely even turned to acknowledge the head of the Council. "I'm not here to enjoy myself."

"Ah, of course. You have a very important job to do," Alistair eyed him knowingly.

"I have my own reasons for being here," Zion said bluntly, studying the older wolf whose face crinkled in a smirk.

"There it is. Honesty. You're definitely not a Vinn as you're so eloquently masquerading as."

Zion was only slightly taken aback by his response. He'd known it wouldn't take much for the clever Alpha to see through his charade. He chuckled. "Was it my accent?"

"No. That is quite good, actually," Alistair waved his hand casually, motioning to Zion's face. "It was the eyes."

Fixing him with a dark stare, Zion silently urged him to expound.

"I recognise Forrester eyes when I see them." Alistair's expression was smug as he continued, "If you're here about your father, you might as well stop wasting your time. I will only give you the same answer I gave him."

Zion clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to smash in Alistair's with his fist. "I know how you feel about the matter," he spoke calmly despite the resentment simmering in his blood. "But would you give a different answer if you saw evidence to disprove your theory?"

"What evidence might that be?" Alistair beheld him with a steady gaze, his demeanor nonplussed and completely unthreatened despite the dominance that radiated from Zion. The younger wolf was a full head taller, his strength undeniably greater than Alistair's, yet the head of Council seemed sure of his elevated status that demanded respect and submission.

Zion's lip twitched with a hint of a smirk. "The evidence you're hiding."

Alistair laughed, the sound coming out rather forced. "You have an even better imagination than your father. Why don't you just crawl back to the hole he's hiding in, and tell him this," leaning forward, Alistair lowered his voice, "He will never be acquitted for slaughtering five respected Alphas, each of them dear friends of mine. What Victor did is unforgivable, and there is no evidence on any continent or island that will change that fact. No one trusts his word over mine, and that is never going to change."

Zion continued to lean against the bar, a languid smirk on his face. With a confident voice, he spoke, "I figured you'd say that. But what if it wasn't just his word? What if it was the word of someone who could block all progress on this precious treaty of yours?" He relished in the twitch in Alistair's left eye. So, he had the pretentious Councillor's attention. "What if the Queen of Vinlarhk herself had proof that the contingent of Alphas you sent to pay her tribute were actually on their way to assassinate her? And that my father acted lawfully to prevent an international atrocity?"

"He killed his fellow countrymen," Alistair growled lowly, finally losing some of his composure. "You'll never find any evidence otherwise from me."

"Is that a confession?" Zion quipped. "Are you agreeing what happened that day may be different to the story you love to retell?"

Casting his eyes quickly around him, Alistair noticed far too many people within earshot. Jerking his head towards the large sliding doors that led outside, he motioned for Zion to follow him further around the deck that wrapped the south-eastern corner of the hotel complex.